The 2011 Frankfurt Musikmesse takes place from April 6th to 8th, with a day for the public on April 9th. The hours of opening are from 9am to 6pm.

The fair has international exhibitors from 46 countries presenting musical instruments, music software and hardware, sheet music, accessories and services connected with music making. Public day has many accordion demonstrators at the displays of the accordion manufacturers.

English Master Production di Antonella Toccaceli, Castelfidardo - leader and manufacturer of different technologies and microphones for midi accordion for this annual meeting in Frankfurt wants to offer to all its customers and fans of this beautiful instrument, a program of unprecedented shows with the performances of the accordion world icon, who has enchanted generations of musicians, Pino Di Modugno (who will perform at the stand MASTER) until the complete opposite with the little brothers Guglielmi. Both will create a series of performances. During the various events, the public will have the opportunity to see, hear and experience the many innovative changes that the Master is synonymous for in quality and reliability since 25 years.For the daily artistic events the 2 young talents Alessandro and Gabriele, aged 8 and 10 years, will perform in a show in solo and duo. They are Winners of numerous national and international competitions of the diatonic accordion and are students at the Centro Studi Musicali NUOVE ARMONIE of Paola (CS) and at the Conservatory of Music Tchykovsky Nocera Terinese (CZ). Shining talents and pride of their teacher Maestro Antonio Spaccarotella, Alessandro and Gabriel are undoubtedly among the most talented musicians of the diatonic accordion in their class at international level and the Master is happy to promote these two talents d 'Art at 360 degrees.Visit the Master Production to 3.1 G51Alessandro(left) e Gabriele (right) Guglielmi

Markku Lepistö - Melodeon Book of Tauno Krossi - Finland

Markku Lepistö: Tauno Krossin kaksiriviskirja |The Melodeon Book of Tauno KrossiPublisher: Markku Lepistö Original release date: Jul 24, 2009 Format: Sheet music book (Hardcover). 136 pages + covers.Many Finns remember Tauno Krossi (1925–1979) as a humble musician from Laihia, who on stage transformed into a strong performer with a remarkable sense of humor, and a knack at connecting with his audience. This book contains Krossi’s central repertoire (61 tunes) transcribed into the Melodeon (diatonic accordion) in G/C. Additionally, the same compositions have been transcribed into simpler form and tabulatures for the Vienna Style accordion in C/F. As such, this book is a fine introduction into Finnish and more specifically Southern Ostrobothnian accordion music.

A bright idea and a gift of Northern Wairoa Kauri are soon to bring two cultures together from opposite sides of the world.

Dargaville, New Zealand born musician, Kevin Friedrich (who lives in New York), has been donated Kauri timber by Dargaville resident Arthur Maich for the crafting of two unusual diatonic accordions, the world's first crafted from the rare and spectacular native New Zealand Kauri timber.

The idea is the brainchild of Kevin who is having the accordions designed and made at the Ikaalinen College of Crafts and Design in Ikaalinen, Finland. Their accordion department specialises in teaching how to build, repair, service and tune different types of instruments.

World firsts, the Kauri accordions will be identical and made in traditional Finnish style. One will be kept in the Dargaville Museum as part of their huge collection, and the other kept in Finland. Kevin will utilize the Dargaville based instrument when he is performing in New Zealand. The instruments will be decorated with Paua shell engravings and maybe use Paua or Greenstone for the buttons.

“It has been a tricky business trying to send the native New Zealand Kauri timber out of New Zealand, but with the help and experience of local businessman Gordon Morfett we are almost ready to go.” says project manager, Dargaville Museum volunteer Margaret Tier.

The precious Kauri timber has since arrived in Finland and was received by Finland project Manager Kimmo Mattila, the President of the Finnish Accordion Association. Media reports on both sides of the world have been very enthusiastic, profiling this interesting and one of a kind project.

Media will continue to monitor the progress in both the local New Zealand newspapers as well as Hanuri, the magazine of the Finnish Accordion Association as well as Newspapers throughout Finland, with an expected completion date in one to two years.

Gwyneth Paltrow Concertina Player, Singer and Actress - USA

Gwyneth Paltrow’s mother, actress Blythe Danner, said Paltrow’s foray into music began in 1995 when she played a concertina for the score of a film she was starring in, ‘Jefferson in Paris’.

Developing her music career, Gwyneth Paltrow has just signed a record deal for a debut album with Atlantic Records. The Oscar winning actress gained attention for her musical talent when she sang ‘Coming Home’ at the recent Academy Awards, which is the title track for her upcoming movie ‘Country Strong’.

The new album is reportedly going to be country pop, so hopefully we will hear Gwyneth Paltrow featuring the concertina too.

John Nixon (1927-2011), Cheshire – UK

John Nixon, one of the world’s finest concertina players, died on Saturday, March 5th, aged 84, after a long battle with anemia and heart disease.

Born in Bolton, Lancashire, in 1927, John Nixon played in his father’s 24 strong Bolton Concertina Band in the 1930s, and in 1940 made his first solo radio broadcast from BBC Manchester.

John became a professional musician in dance bands, using English concertina, clarinet and alto saxophone, and also performed regularly in jazz clubs.

John Nixon was widely acknowledged as one of the world's best concertina players, with a great feeling for playing jazz. He spent many years as a session musician, and recorded with the likes of Henry Mancini, Barbara Streisand, Paul McCartney, George Martin, Michel Legrande, and accordionists Frank Marocco, Jack Emblow, Harry Hussey, and Marcel Azzola. His playing can be heard on the soundtracks of such BBC television programmes as ‘Kidnapped’, ‘All Creatures Great and Small’, and ’Allo Allo’, whilst his film credits include ‘Santa Claus the Movie’, ‘Tess’, and ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ – to name but a few.

In 1984, John played on Paul McCartney’s ‘We All Stand Together’, a Number One chart hit at Christmas. He recalls that the recording session involved him using treble, baritone and bass concertinas, together with The King’s Singers, the junior choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, an orchestra conducted by George Martin, and the legendary ‘Macca’ himself. John remembers Paul McCartney exhorting The King’s Singers to make sounds like frogs, demonstrating animatedly what he wanted!

On another occasion, John was in the studio, again with George Martin at the helm, playing alongside French accordionist, Marcel Azzola, recording a film score. During lunch break, with the studio otherwise empty, John and Marcel, plus a keyboard player had an impromptu jam session, playing jazz together. John afterwards wished that someone had recorded them – a lost opportunity, alas.

In 2002 John Nixon was elected a Vice President of Stockport Accordion Club, and he was also well known at accordion festivals, performing and leading jazz and swing band workshops. One of his greatest pleasures was to play a couple of impromptu duets with whoever happened to be the guest artiste at Stockport AC concerts, and audiences were thus regularly treated to his magical skills on the concertina.

Tony MacKenzie Busking to the End, Mornington Penninsula, - Australia

Tony Mackenzie busked using his button box, voice and his giant heart, right up until the end. On March 16, battling liver cancer, the veteran charity worker grabbed his trusty accordion and headed down to the Mornington market, Victoria

The 77-year-old played, sang and chatted with market patrons for about two hours before heading home, and passing away on 21 March. For a man who was very much a part of the Mornington market scene, it was a fitting end to a life well lived.

Mr Mackenzie raised more than $100,000 for charities, particularly the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation. He was keen to support children with brittle bones. He had a real affinity for children who were disadvantaged.

In retirement, Tony Mackenzie played his accordion at the Red Hill, Mornington, Balnarring, Rosebud and Tootgarook markets to raise money for charities.

In an interview with a local newspaper in 2007, Tony Mackenzie said his childhood experience of being raised in an orphanage motivated him to reach out to children in need.

“I just want to help the little guys out. The people at the market are very kind to me and very generous to the kids,” he said.

A service was held at Dromana’s Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, where Mr MacKenzie regularly attended services on 25 March.

Festivals, Competitions, Masterclasses/Seminars/Stages, Reports etc.

Australian Celtic Festival - AUSTRALIA

About the FestivalThe Australian Celtic Festival is held in Glen Innes "Celtic Country" on the first weekend in May annually. Originally developed as a meeting place for the Celtic Clans and Associations of Australia to gather and celebrate their Celtic history. While today the festival has grown into a "must see" Celtic experience attracting close to 4500 visitors. The festival is held at the Australian Standing Stones overlooking the rural township of Glen Innes and celebrates the great Celtic Culture with song, dance, history and food.

The festival honours a different Celtic Nation annually, 2011 - The Year of the Irish!

Held over four days with entertainment including;

•Three stages of Celtic performances of song, dances and pipe bands.•Celtic Ceremonies•Kirking of the tartans•Dawn Service•Massed Pipe Bands•Street Parade•Strongman Events•Children's activities•Poet's breakfast•Celtic Stalls•Yard dog Championships•Fun Run and Walk•Celtic Food•Celtic ToursOn stage also the multi-award winning Celtic Roots band, with their uniquely Australian sound and great respect for traditional music. Featuring Christine Wheeler on vocals, flute and whistles, 2009 CMAA National Fiddle Champion Mike Kerin, also on mandolin, guitar and vocals, founding member Ged Corbin on guitar and mandolin, Tinker Duffy of Irish, Romany and Welsh descent on piano accordion and vocals, and Michael Vidale on semi acoustic double bass, Wheelers and Dealers is an entertaining musical journey through Celtic music..

The Big Squeeze auditions have nearly all been held.- March 6: Rio Grande Valley at the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center in San Benito;- March 11: Houston at the Eldorado Ballroom of Project Row Houses;- March 13: La Grange at the Swiss Alp Dance Hall;- March 19: Dallas at the Latino Cultural Center;- March 25: Seguin at the Birch Texas Theatre hosted by Teatro de Artes de Juan Seguin;- March 27: Corpus Christi at Hacienda Records; and- April 1: San Antonio at the Conjunto Heritage Taller.

Semifinalists selected by audition or mailed entries will be hosted in Austin to take part in the semifinals held on April 30 at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.

At that time, up to four finalists will be selected and awarded $300 each as well as having their hotel stay paid in Houston to compete before a large, enthusiastic audience of accordion fans at the Accordion Kings & Queens Festival on June 4.

Last year’s crowd numbered over 6,000. The Big Squeeze 2011 grand-prize-winner will be selected at the concert by the panel of judges with help from the audience.

The grand-prize-winner will receive a prize package valued at $ 4500, including a $1000 cash prize, a brand new Hohner accordion and recording time at the historic Hacienda Records in Corpus Christi, as well as promotional support from SugarHill Records, Hohner, Inc., Hacienda Records and Texas Folklife, and other professional opportunities.

Texas Folklife is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to presenting and preserving the diverse cultures and living heritage of the Lone Star State.

For more than 25 years, Texas Folklife has honored the authentic cultural traditions passed down within communities and explored their importance in contemporary society. Called “one of the state’s true cultural treasures” by the Austin American-Statesman, Texas Folklife provides accessible, joyful arts experiences.

Located in SoCo just south of downtown Austin, Texas Folklife can be found next door to the Continental Club, at 1317 South Congress Avenue. For more information contact (512) 441-9255, info@texasfolklife.org

Helena Ruegg Bandoneon Performances - Israel, Palestine

Helena Ruegg (Switzerland) is reported visting Israel and Palestine in November 2010, meeting with Jewish and Arab musicians.

The Workers Advice Center, WAC-MAAN, invited her to perform, and she responded with two unique shows, featuring tangos as well as revolutionary songs (some in Yiddish), at WAC's new center in Haifa and at Beit ha-Am in Tel Aviv.

Helena has played in dozens of ensembles on stages throughout the world. In 1999, with Arne Birkenstock, she published Tango: Geschichte und Geschichten, a book on the tango's history which has had a great success.

Because it is hard to make a living from playing, she combined her musical career with journalism.

QUIERO 24 en Essa Milonga - Argentina

Wednesday 6 of April: Quiero 24 Very refined play list of tangos & milongas. As well as compositions of their own and some classics, they are a band creative and traditional; Traditional in their musical formation following the popular likes of tango cacion of sucha an artist as, Carlos Gardel, Ignacio Corsini, Nelly Omar y Edmundo Rivero, creative in their look, play list and musical arrangements that show just how much tango has been forced to change through time.

Mario Salvi e Raffaele Inserra a Latina - Italia

Astor Piazzolla 90th Birthday Celebration, Honolulu – Hawaii

To celebrate the 90th birthday of the late Astor Piazzolla, violinist Iggy Jang is leading a band to perform in a ‘Tango Extravaganza!’ at the Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Hawaii, on April 2nd, 7.30pm.

The band includes Grammy-Award winning bandoneon player Raul Jaurena, pianist Alfredo Minetti, and Tony-Award dancers Guillermo Merlo & Fernanda Ghi. The group is joined by guitarist Jeff Peterson and bassist John Gallagher.

The players will give a pre-concert talk at 6.30pm. The show begins at 7.30pm.

“Tiger Lillies Freaks Show" – UK/Bielorussia

"Welcome to the Carnival of Circus Freaks The Bleeding Lady the blood from her leaks Here is a place where you can buy crack Lobotomised whores who you can slap."

The Freakshow presents the mutation of the Tiger Lillies 1999 cd 'Circus Songs'. New outcasts have their story presented for your listening pleasure. The Snake Woman, Three Legged Jake, Rosa with 3 Hearts, the Fat Lady, Deathless Man, Normo, Bleeding Lady, Matchstick Man, Flipper Boy, The Bleeding Lady, Ugly Joe, Hairy Man and the Sleeper all cavort for your entertainment. A carnival of oddities, but who is the freak, them or YOU?

Martyn JacquesVocals, Accordion Martyn Jacques, the founder of The Tiger Lillies, spent much of his early years living above a brothel in London's Soho. His songs describe (in lurid detail) pimps, prostitutes, drug addicts, losers and other unsavoury characters. He wrote the music for Shockheaded Peter and won an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical for his memorable role in the work. He is currently working on several theatrical projects

Paolo Russo/Bandoneon in April - Denmark/Sweden

Born in Pescara, Italy, in 1969, based in Copenhagen, Denmark since 1996. He started to play the piano at the age of 9. After leaving the University, where he studied Architecture for 5 years, Paolo dedicated himself completely to music. He is educated both in classical music and in rhythmic music. He has performed all over Europe, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Thailand, Tanzania, Mozambique and Japan.

He is playing currently with Band Au Neon, Nuevotrioporteño and with the Swedish based ensemble A Piacere kvartetten. Among his collaborations: the RUSSO/BOLLANI/FRESU TRIO. Furthermore, he has presented his solo recital on piano and bandoneón in Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Hungary and Argentina since 2002. To mention also the recent collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark Symphony Orchestra (conductor: Saul Zaks).

Hohner will attend again the world’s biggest Music Fair in Frankfurt, April 6th to 9th, with completely renewed brand presentation. It focuses on the joy of making music all across the globe. The brand new Hohner booth is located right in the centre of hall 3.1 (F60).

Hohner will introduce a number of new instruments. Themed “Roots for the Fu-ture” some special highlights are:- The new guitar series Essential Roos- The groundbreaking Marine Band Thunderbird harmonica- The innovative Hohner Squeezebox App for iPad, that was recently release in the USA. More information at: http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=04-Mar-2011#art4009

Further new products will be presented in areas like Melodicas, Classic Guitars and Lanikai Ukuleles. Another highlight is the Harmonica Vintage Exhibition in hall 4.1.

7th Annual Creole Heritage Zydeco & Crawfish Festival - USA

TrioTonico and Liguriani e Mauro Pirovano in concert - Italy/Holland

Filippo Gambetta (born in 1981) is an italian melodeon player and composer; the music that he presents is innovative contemporary folk music with lots of different influences. Hailing from Genoa, in northern Italy, Filippo began playing the accordion at the age of fourteen; his music is steeped in northern Italian folk idioms, but also taps Nordic, Celtic, Balkan and other global inspirations. His main band at present is a trio with acoustic guitarist Claudio de Angeli and double bassist Riccardo Barbera.

Super Button Box Bash Marathon, Euclid, Ohio - USA

The Super Button Box Bash features the unique sound of the diatonic button accordion as played by 12 different bands in a marathon of music in two halls.

Held 3rd April 2011 at the Slovenian Society Home, Recher Ave, Euclid, (1pm to 8 pm), the Button Box Bash is one of the largest Slovenian polka events of the year in the Cleveland area," said Kathleen Trebets, a Willoughby resident and board member of the Slovenian Society Home as well as the Circle Director of the Slovenian Junior Chorus, which will perform at the event.

"It's a tradition that seems to live on year after year and each year draws well-known musicians as well as others who enjoy picking up their accordions and showing off their talents," Trebets said.

"The atmosphere is lively and contagious and you can't help but sing along or tap your toes or get out on the dance floor.

"The Bash brings together a community of people of all different nationalities who love to listen and dance to some great polka and waltz music."

Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi Performs in Yerevan - Armenia

On March 10th, virtuoso Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi performed in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

Pietrodarchi is performing in the concert dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the legendary Astor Piazzolla with Armenia’s State Youth Orchestra, conducted by Sergey Smbatyan and Italian conductor Roberto Molinelli.

Pietrodarchi and Armenia’s State Youth Orchestra first performed a concert in Yerevan in March 2010.

The 2011 concert also featured works by Robert Molinelli and Antonella Barbarossa.

“This is my fourth concert in Armenia and the second joint project with the Youth State Orchestra of Armenia. This time I wanted to presented a piece of Italy to the Armenian audience. I will also be happy to cooperate with an Armenian composer,” Pietrodarchi told a news conference in Yerevan.

Italian composer Antonella Barbarossa said she was "proud to present her Concerto for bandoneon, timpani e orchestra in Yerevan". The world premiere of her new work took place during the concert on March 10.

“I would like to thank Molinelli, Barbarossa and Pietrodarchi for this opportunity. I am proud that our orchestra was a part of the world premiere,” YSOA conductor Sergey Smbatyan told reporters.

Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi is a tutor at the Conservatory Vibo Valentia, Italy.

Joe Burke CD: ‘Happy To Meet & Sorry To Part’, Galway – Ireland

‘Happy To Meet & Sorry To Part’ is a re-issued CD, starring Irish button accordionist Joe Burke, accompanied by Michael Cooney (guitar), and Terry Corcoran (pipes). The recording was made in Nashville, USA, in 1986.

Joe Burke (born 1939) is a legendary figure in Irish traditional music. He is based in Galway, on the west coast of Ireland, where he performs and teaches the diatonic accordion. At the time of recording ‘Happy To Meet & Sorry To Part’ Joe Burke lived in Boston, USA.

Help Desk, Information needed, Readers Comments

Antique Accordian

I have a family heirloom that I need more information on. If it is valuable I would consider selling it, if not I'll just hand it down. I can't find any info on the internet. If you can please point me in the right direction The emblem says: